Southampton Townhill Park regeneration delay as contractor pulls out

Drew Smith - now Countryside Partnerships - announced it will not be involved in building some 250 homes across three plots at Townhill Park.

The wider long-awaited development has been in the works since 2011, but only 56 homes out of the 665 have been completed.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said the project has been a ‘decade-long disaster’.

The future of the three plots is yet to be determined, Southampton City Council confirmed.

Further delays

Rowlands Walk flats to the left, and the Copse Lane site just beyond at Townhill Park (Image: Definitelyblurredphotography)

The plots affected by Countryside Partnerships’ decision are two, nine, and 10 – Meggeson Avenue, Rowlands Walk, and Copse Road.

Plot two was due to include 200 flats, made up of one, two and three-bed homes.

Plot nine included 34 flats and 17 houses, while plot ten has 20 houses.

Three blocks of flats stand empty at Rowlands Walk, while the other two sites are boarded up following previous demolition.

John Forth has lived opposite the Copse Road site for 13 years.

"The flats have not been there for years, and it’s turned into an eyesore," the 70-year-old said.

READ MORE: Empty flats at Townhill Park to be demolished after years of delays

John moved to Townhill Park 13 years ago with his late partner, whose mother lived in the former block of flats on the road.

He said: “The building meant a lot because of my partner’s mum, and I watched it being demolished.

“The regeneration has been going on for too many years now. The council say they are going to redevelop the area, then they don’t.

“It’s time someone pulled their finger out and did something about it.”

‘Wasted opportunity’

MP Mr Smith agrees with John’s sentiments. He was leader of the city council in 2011 when the redevelopment began.

The full regeneration was earmarked to be completed by Spring 2019 - but barely a fraction of the homes were built.

Three years after the first – and only – 56 homes were built, the project’s budget was slashed from £144million to £60.5million following earlier budget cuts by a Conservative administration.

Speaking on the latest update, Mr Smith said: “This is just one more episode in their catalogue of wasted opportunity.

“There are literally thousands of people living in inadequate accommodation in Southampton, while Labour presides over one catastrophe after another.

“Ultimately it is those that need help the most who suffer under the city's dysfunctional council."

Leader of the council, Lorna Fielker, said: "It's disappointing that Drew Smith (now Countryside Partnerships) has withdrawn from the contract. 

"In the light of this decision the council will be reviewing the future delivery of new homes at Townhill Park and are committed to taking the sites forward at a pace."

'Sad state of affairs'

Mike Branson with his dog Eddie outside the Rowlands Walk flats (Image: Newsquest)

Several residents remain dispirited over the lack of work taking place in the area.

Mike Branson, 63, said leaving the buildings and sites empty will ‘bring the area into decline’.

The resident of 25 years said: “It’s sad to see the flats sat there empty, they should be revamped and reused.

“The people the council turfed out should be given the first opportunity to be moved back in if they are not going to be reused.

“A lot of the people who did live here were upset about being moved out.

“it’s a sad state of affairs.”

Kim Ayling, chair of SO18 Big Local said: "For over eight years we have worked with Southampton City Council acting as a critical friend on all things Townhill Park regeneration. 

"The Townhill Park community has been decimated by the decommissioning of blocks of flats, with the loss of over 250 families being moved out. 

"Our schools are suffering from the drop in numbers of children. 

"Any move forward in the hope that homes people will love to live in will be built is to be welcomed."

What does the future of Townhill Park regeneration hold?

Drew Smith pulling out of the plans, including the one at Copse Road, has been described as a mutual agreement with the council.

It comes after the developer reviewed the scheme and its available resources.

According to the council, it is likely that the plots could be picked up by one of the affordable homes providers it is working with on the regeneration.

However, this would require a council decision subject to financial approval in the new year.

A spokesperson from the council said: “The council is committed to taking the sites forward at a pace and we will keep residents informed of the process.”

Despite this setback, the council appointed four housing providers in August. They are now being invited to put in bids to build homes at other plots at Townhill.

READ NEXT: Homeless families moved into empty homes at Townhill Park

These are plot five (Benhams Road, Meggeson Avenue, Hallett Close and Cutbush Lane) and plot six (Meggeson Avenue shops with homes above and the former site of the pub).

Both plots have existing buildings that will be demolished to make way for the new housing.

Part of plot five has recently received funding from the Brownfield Land Release Fund to demolish the two empty Benhams Road blocks and work is anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

The three remaining blocks will remain for now.